Why the Black Friar is Worth Seeking Out
Traveler’s Pick: One of London’s most extraordinary pubs for architecture and interior design
Known For: Art Nouveau mosaics, Arts & Crafts craftsmanship, and mischievous monk sculptures
Best For: History lovers, literary enthusiasts, solo travelers, and cask ale connoisseurs
Current Building: c. 1875 (Extensively remodeled c. 1905 and 1917)
Pub Owner: Nicholson’s Pubs / Mitchells & Butlers
Occupying a dramatic wedge-shaped building at the busy junction of Queen Victoria Street and New Bridge Street, The Black Friar pub in London is one of the city’s most extraordinary historic destinations. Its elaborate Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau design, crowned by a giant stone friar over the front door, is impossible to miss from the pavement. Yet nothing completely prepares you for the spectacle waiting across the threshold. Step through the entrance and the ordinary city gives way to an opulent sanctuary where shimmering gold mosaics, dark walnut snugs, marble arches, and mischievous carved figures create London’s most unforgettable pub interior.
What to Look For: The Traveler’s Checklist
The Guardian Friar: Before heading inside, look up at the exterior above the entrance. The enormous smiling stone figure of a Dominican black friar stands watch over the busy street below, giving you your first clue that this is going to be no ordinary London pub.
The Copper Sconce Carvings: Look closely at the dark walnut dividers around the bar snugs immediately upon stepping inside. Their elaborate copper fittings contain tiny sculpted scenes of friars going about their daily activities, serving as one more wonderfully unexpected detail hidden in plain sight.
The Cheeky Monastic Motto Hunt: Keep your eyes open as you explore the main room for the virtuous inscriptions including “Haste is Slow,” “Wisdom is Good,” and “Industry is All.” While the mottos preach discipline and restraint, the monks are often depicted doing exactly the opposite—boiling trout, drinking ale, enjoying cheese, and generally having a far better time than their instructions might suggest. Don’t miss perhaps the best piece of pub advice in the building: “Don’t Speak Unless You Can Improve on Silence.”
The “Tomorrow Will Be Friday” Relief: Head toward the rear dining area and look above the fireplace for Frederick Callcott’s wonderfully detailed copper relief. The scene shows cheerful monks preparing fish for the traditional Friday fast, offering a perfect example of the pub’s playful take on monastic life.
The Perfect Pint: As part of Nicholson’s collection of historic British pubs, the bar serves a rotating selection of traditional British cask ales. Find a seat beneath the shimmering gold mosaics, order a proper pint of local real ale, and enjoy the view.
The Story Behind It
The history of this corner of London stretches back to the 13th century, when the area was occupied by a sprawling Dominican monastery. The monks wore distinctive black cloaks over their white habits, earning them the nickname the “Black Friars”—a name that eventually became attached to the surrounding neighborhood.
This was no ordinary monastery. In 1529, the Blackfriars priory became the setting for one of the most dramatic moments in Tudor history, when Henry VIII’s attempt to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon was heard before a special court. Catherine famously appeared before Henry and the papal legates to defend her marriage, creating one of the defining scenes of the king’s long and ultimately disastrous quest to end their union.
The monastery vanished long ago, but its medieval residents were brought back to life in a wonderfully cheeky way when architect Herbert Fuller-Clark and sculptors including Henry Poole and Frederick Callcott transformed the pub in the early 20th century. Together, they created an immersive social space that doubles as a playful satire on monastic life.
Look closely and you’ll find jolly, portly friars boiling trout, harvesting fields, singing carols, and indulging in cheese and ale. Intricate reliefs, marble carvings, mosaics, and sculptures turn nearly every corner of the pub into part of the story.
Look up at the main front bar, where a barrel-vaulted ceiling is lined with shimmering hand-laid gold mosaics reflecting the glow of the brass fixtures below. Beyond the main counter, the pub opens into a dramatic rear dining alcove framed by richly colored marble pillars.
This spectacular interior very nearly disappeared altogether. In the 1960s, the building was threatened with demolition during redevelopment of the area. A preservation campaign championed by poet and heritage campaigner Sir John Betjeman helped save it, allowing one of London’s most remarkable surviving pub interiors to remain exactly where it belongs—serving pints beneath the gold mosaics.
Where to Find It
Address: 174 Queen Victoria Street, London EC4V 4EG
Nearby Landmarks: Blackfriars Bridge, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the Millennium Bridge
Nearest Stations: Blackfriars
Know Before You Go
Finding the Entrance: The Black Friar occupies the dramatic wedge-shaped building at the junction of Queen Victoria Street and New Bridge Street, so it is hard to miss. The busy pedestrian crossings around the intersection can be a little chaotic, however, especially if you are walking over from the river.
The Commuter Rush: The pub is close to Blackfriars Station and can become busy with after-work crowds on weekday evenings. Visit earlier in the afternoon if you want more time and space to admire the mosaics and explore the interior.
Dining and Menus: The Black Friar serves traditional British pub food as well as drinks, with seating available beyond the main bar area. Check the current menu before your visit if you are planning to eat.
The Interior Layout: The pub’s unusual wedge-shaped building creates an interior with small snugs, narrow passages, and tucked-away spaces. It can feel crowded when the pub is busy, so an earlier visit is your best bet if you want to explore and photograph the details.
Check Before You Go: Hours, access, reservations, parking, and occasional closures can change, so always check the official The Black Friar website before finalizing your plans.
More London Pubs to Explore
Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese: Fleet Street’s historic literary landmark.
Ye Olde Mitre Pub: Holborn’s hidden Elizabethan geographical oddity.
The Grenadier Pub London: Inside Belgravia’s hidden military landmark.
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